Hera glanced at Asteria and Iris.
"So… what are we going to do about Aetherion now?"
she asked.
By this point, the rebel army was already passing through the portals.
One after another, they escaped safely while Pallas's forces were left in complete disarray.
Hera didn't even bother looking at Aetherion clones that had sacrificed themselves.
She could already sense that the major gods they had targeted were severely injured and would not be moving anytime soon.
Asteria looked at her with a calm smile.
"You do not need to worry, Hera. I will assist him, and we will escape together."
She continued confidently.
"Hera, you will return to base—to our island. When the time comes, I will bring your brother with me."
Hera frowned slightly, clearly reluctant.
She wanted to help.
Before she could argue, Asteria raised a hand.
"Hera… you have done enough."
Her voice softened slightly.
"Even now, I can see it. You have been pushing yourself too hard. Even a goddess with vast power can exhaust her mind and body."
"You need to rest."
"Go with Iris."
Asteria looked at her seriously and added on.
"I wouldn't follow a foolish woman as my leader, would i?"
Hera sighed.
She released her divine form and nodded.
"Fine… let's go, Iris."
Iris quickly took her by the shoulder.
In the next moment, a beam of rainbow light flashed—and both of them vanished through the portal.
Now alone in the sky, Asteria turned her gaze toward the battlefield where Hyperion and Aetherion were fighting.
Her expression became serious.
'So… he has already entered his divine form.'
That was the only thought in her mind.
Without hesitation, she took flight toward the battlefield.
The battle ahead was catastrophic—far beyond the level of most deity's.
After all, Hyperion was one of Kronos's Four Great Generals, a being who stood above most of the Twelve Titans themselves.
This fight could easily become unwinnable.
Still…
She was confident they could at least escape.
Especially if she entered her divine form as well.
A small smile appeared on her lips.
'I haven't fought seriously in a long time…'
But who could say what would happen if two deities unleashed the full power of their Star Domains?
Her smile widened slightly.
"I suppose we'll find out."
A soft chuckle escaped her lips as the wind brushed against her face.
Light began to gather around her body.
Slowly—
She began to enter her own divine form.
As Asteria entered her divine form, her appearance changed.
Her extremely dark purple hair remained the same, yet tiny white specks appeared within it, resembling a star-filled night sky.
Behind her back, three pairs of wings formed—each made entirely of pure starlight.
Her clothing did not change, but her eyes began to glow.
The small white specks within her pupils shone brighter and brighter, radiating a brilliant white light.
Above her head appeared a halo—a radiant star-shaped crown glowing with celestial brilliance.
She had entered her Star Divine Form.
Now she floated high in the sky, observing the battle between Hyperion and Aetherion.
For the moment, she did not interfere.
She needed the right opportunity—an opening where she could draw Hyperion's attention long enough to give both herself and Aetherion a chance to escape.
So she watched carefully.
Aetherion was not running.
He was teleporting—moving between the stars he had created across the battlefield.
Each time he vanished, he reappeared beside another star somewhere in the open sky.
But Hyperion's speed was terrifying.
With bursts of radiant light, he kept pace with Aetherion's teleportation and even managed to land a few strikes.
Aetherion's body now carried several small cuts.
They were not serious enough to slow him down, but they were proof that Hyperion currently had the upper hand.
Asteria knew she could not recklessly join the battle.
Their speed alone made interference extremely dangerous.
So she waited.
Then she decided to do the only thing she could think of.
She reached out with her divine power and sent her thoughts directly into Aetherion's mind.
'Aetherion.'
***
While teleporting away from Hyperion's relentless attacks, Aetherion seemed to notice the intrusion and allowed her thoughts to enter his mind.
'Do not react,' Asteria continued. 'Act as if you cannot hear me.'
Below them, Hyperion continued his assault, unaware of their silent conversation.
'First, listen carefully. The entire army has already retreated. Hera, Kratos, and Nike have all withdrawn. Iris escorted them personally under Metis's orders.'
Aetherion continued teleporting as if nothing had changed.
Hyperion followed.
Their battle raged on in blinding flashes of light.
Asteria continued.
'We must retreat now. Our objective has already been accomplished.'
'Defeating Hyperion is unnecessary at this moment.'
'This is one of Kronos's four generals. Fighting him here serves no purpose.'
'There will be time for battles like this in the future.'
She paused for a moment before continuing.
'So I need you to do something.'
Even as Aetherion teleported again to avoid another strike from Hyperion, she could feel that he was listening.
'Allow me control of the stars you summoned.'
For a brief moment, she felt his surprise.
But this was not the first time they had done something like this.
He had trusted her with his stars before under training together.
And he could do so again.
'Let me use them.'
Her plan was simple.
She would manipulate the stars Aetherion had summoned—not to defeat Hyperion, but to create a brief distraction.
If she could land a single unexpected strike…
Even for a moment…
That moment would be enough.
Enough time for Aetherion to open a portal.
Enough time for both of them to escape.
Back to their hidden kingdom.
Back to safety.
And back to deliver the news of their victory.